A daring daylight robbery in London resulted in the theft of three bags from a Post Office mail van on Saturday afternoon. The stolen bags, each weighing approximately 40 pounds, contained registered packages sent from the Hatton Garden Post Office, known as a hub for the pearl and diamond trade.

The exact value of the stolen contents remains uncertain, with estimates potentially reaching around £100,000. However, officials caution the total could be either lower or significantly higher. The Saturday post is typically the heaviest of the week for Hatton Garden, especially as jewel merchants ramp up shipments ahead of the Christmas season. A more precise assessment of the loss is expected once the Post Office contacts the original senders of the packages.

According to investigators, the mail van, a red one-ton vehicle, departed the Hatton Garden Post Office shortly before 2 p.m., driven by 25-year-old John Hamilton. He was accompanied by a postman, and the van carried 32 mail bags collected from locations within approximately a mile and a half of Hatton Garden. The van made a scheduled stop at the Smithfield Post Office, opposite the well-known market, where the postman briefly stepped away to collect additional mail. During this brief absence of no more than a minute, the van disappeared.

Authorities report that en route, the mail van was joined by a powerful four-seater touring car with its hood raised. The two vehicles traveled together along Goswell Road near the Angel in Islington before turning left into Upper Charles Street, about a mile from the Smithfield Post Office. It was here that the driver, purportedly removing his Post Office coat and cap, quickly transferred the three targeted bags into the waiting car and sped away.

Upper Charles Street is a relatively quiet area running into Northampton Square, bordered by small residences on one side and a large factory on the other—conditions seemingly favorable for an unobtrusive handover. Despite the minimal foot traffic, one passerby, Mr. WA Smith of Upper Ashby Street, happened to witness the transfer. Carrying a police whistle out of habit, Mr. Smith immediately blew it and alerted another bystander that a police officer was nearby. His action drew public attention to the scene, though by the time people arrived, the suspects had already fled.

Police are currently searching for John Hamilton, described as a slim man standing approximately 5 feet 9 inches tall, and are also seeking information on the four-seater touring car involved in the incident. A watch has been placed on ports, particularly those facilitating quick routes to Antwerp, as authorities investigate potential escape plans associated with the crime.